Urban News

The measures will take on both contaminated water sources and mosquito breeding grounds.

The first target would be water pouches which do not confirm to quality   standards. The corporation has decided to crack down on those vending  packaged water which does not bear BIS ISI certification.

Municipal Commissioner Gadadhar Parida said the health unit of BMC is all set to launch a drive against the vendors. Since a number of such manufacturers  are located both in southern and coastal pockets, where cholera organism is found existent, the target is to check the supply of packaged water.

‘’We are aware of the fact that non-standardised packaged water is one of the major reasons of contamination that leads to the communicable diseases. We have decided to put in place our health teams to inspect the vendors and stem the rot,’’ Parida announced.

While cholera remains a worry, it is dengue which is causing much more headache to the civic body. A recent study had found that Aedes, the mosquito that plays the carrier, is found in abundance in the capital. Once the  dengue parasite spreads, it would be difficult to control the menace and the BMC is aware of the threat it could pose. Given the state of construction works in the capital and urbanisation process,  the breeding grounds for the vector population are dime a dozen.

The municipal commissioner said a special strategy has been chalked out for  sanitation. Each ward has been divided into four divisions. Every Sunday, all  the health workers of the ward would be mobilised into one division to clear water sources and waste materials which lead to growth of the Aedes population.

Special attention would be given to regions adjoining the temples in the city  which serve food and waste is generated. A drive would be launched to clean the premises and the adjoining areas, Parida said.